Calabasas Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Calabasas Building Department Contact Information

Official Online Permit & Inspection Services

When Do You Need a Building Permit in Calabasas?

A permit is generally required for new construction and for regulated alterations, repairs, replacements, or changes to building systems. The exact permit depends on the work being performed.

Work That May Be Exempt From a Building Permit

Calabasas published an updated 2026 permit-exemption handout based on the 2025 California Building and Residential Codes with City amendments. Common examples include:

• One-story detached storage sheds, playhouses and similar accessory structures with a floor area of 120 square feet or less.
• Fences not over 7 feet high, subject to important exceptions for certain front-yard and masonry walls and separate Planning rules.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or certain liquids.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work.
• Certain sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not part of an accessible route.
• Qualifying residential decks not over 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling and not serving a required exit door.
• Certain small prefabricated above-ground residential pools less than 24 inches deep and within the City’s stated capacity limits.

Open the City’s Forms & Handouts page and select Work Exempt from Permits for the current detailed list.

How to Apply for a Calabasas Building Permit

1. Confirm the property is within Calabasas city jurisdiction.
   A Calabasas mailing address does not always answer jurisdiction questions by itself. Confirm that the property is regulated by the City before preparing a City permit application.
2. Check Planning requirements first.
   For exterior work, new development, additions, new homes and other site-related projects, determine whether a zoning clearance or other Planning approval is required. The City’s Planning number is (818) 224-1600.
3. Create a SmartGov portal account.
   Go to the official permit portal, select Sign Up, and create your account before applying or requesting an inspection.
4. Select the correct application.
   Calabasas provides residential building, commercial building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit applications. A Building Project Identification form is required when a permit is pulled.
5. Prepare plans and supporting documents.
   Include the plans, calculations, product information, approvals and project-specific checklists required for your scope. Incomplete applications can be returned for missing information.
6. Submit electronically.
   Upload the application and required digital construction documents. The City states that all residential and commercial applications and plan reviews are handled electronically.
7. Respond to plan-check comments.
   If corrections are issued, revise the documents and resubmit through the electronic process. Do not build from unapproved revisions.
8. Complete contractor and fee requirements.
   Before issuance, required fees must be paid and applicable California contractor-license documentation must be verified.
9. Download the issued permit and approved plans.
   Keep the permit inspection card and City-approved plans available at the job site.
10. Schedule each required inspection before work is concealed.
    Use the online portal and complete the final inspection before considering the permitted work complete.

What Documents Should You Prepare?

Requirements depend on project type. For a typical residential project, the City’s checklists may call for some combination of the following:

• Residential or commercial Building Permit / Plan Review Application.
• Building Project Identification form.
• Site or plot plan.
• Architectural plans.
• Structural plans and engineering calculations when applicable.
• Electrical, mechanical and plumbing drawings or applications.
• California Title 24 energy documentation.
• Planning approval or zoning clearance where required.
• Geology or soils reports for applicable sites.
• Electrical load calculations.
• Manufacturer specifications for equipment or systems.
• Project-specific roof, window, HVAC, pool, generator or battery forms when applicable.

Owner-Builder or Contractor?

The permit holder is generally either the California-licensed contractor of record or the property owner acting as an owner-builder. Calabasas provides a separate Property Owner’s Disclosure for owner-builder permits. An authorized agent may need appropriate written/notarized authorization.

Do not assume California’s small-job contractor-license exemption means a building permit is unnecessary. If the work itself requires a permit, applicable licensing and permit rules still apply.

Calabasas Building Permit Fees & Review Time

How Permit Fees Are Determined

There is no single flat Calabasas building permit price. The total can depend on project valuation, permit type, plan review, trade permits, energy or accessibility review, state-mandated charges and any Planning, Public Works, fire or outside-agency fees that apply.

For the most accurate estimate, have these details ready:

• Property address.
• Detailed scope of work.
• Estimated project valuation.
• Residential or commercial occupancy/use.
• Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work involved.
• Any grading, public right-of-way, fire, zoning or outside-agency approvals.

How Long Does a Permit Take?

Calabasas does not publish one approval time for every permit. The City’s guidance states that some simple residential repairs or replacement projects that do not require building plans may be issued in as little as one day when the submission is complete.

Projects requiring plans—such as new homes, additions, ADUs, commercial work, retaining walls, pools, solar, battery systems, generators and site improvements—require formal review and may also need other department or agency approvals.

The biggest avoidable delay: incomplete plans or missing documents. Use the City’s project-specific checklist before submitting.

How to Schedule a Building Inspection

Calabasas no longer accepts building inspection requests by phone or email. Requests must be made through the official online permit portal.

1. Sign in to the Calabasas permit portal.
2. Open the issued permit associated with your account.
3. Select the required inspection after the work is complete and ready to be examined.
4. Submit by 3:00 p.m. on the prior business day for the desired inspection date. Later requests move to the next available business day.
5. Watch for the request acknowledgement. An automated acknowledgement is not the same as confirmation that the requested date/time has been assigned.
6. Check the morning confirmation. The City’s inspection guidance says the schedule is finalized in the morning; registered portal users associated with the project receive an email when scheduling is confirmed.

What Must Be Ready at the Job Site?

• Permit Inspection Card.
• City-stamped approved plans when plans were required.
• Safe access to the work being inspected.
• A visible property address.
• Animals secured away from the inspection area.
• A suitable ladder available when one is required to reach the work.

For small exterior residential projects that can be inspected without entering an occupied building, the owner or contractor may not always need to be present if access and required documents are available. For inspections requiring entry into an occupied home, an adult should be present.

Typical Inspection Stages

The exact sequence is listed on the permit and depends on the project. Common stages can include foundation/footing, underground utilities, rough plumbing/electrical/mechanical, framing, insulation or other concealed-work inspections, and final approval.

If corrections are issued, complete all cited items and request reinspection. A project is not legally complete simply because construction has ended; required final inspections and approvals still need to be completed.

Building Codes Used in Calabasas in 2026

Projects accepted for processing after December 31, 2025 are subject to the 2025 California Building Standards Code cycle together with applicable Calabasas amendments and other adopted requirements.

Projects may also be subject to Calabasas Municipal Code amendments, zoning rules, fire requirements, accessibility standards and project-specific conditions. An existing permit may remain tied to the code cycle under which it was accepted, so do not automatically redesign an already-approved project to the newest edition without confirming with Building and Safety.

View the City’s current Building Codes page.

Local Approvals That Can Affect a Calabasas Project

A Building and Safety permit may be only one part of the approval process. Depending on the property and scope, additional review can include:

Solar Permits

Calabasas uses SolarAPP+ for qualifying residential solar review. After the applicable SolarAPP+ process, applicants still complete the City’s required permitting steps and schedule final inspection through the City portal.

Accessory Dwelling Units

The City maintains separate ADU guidance and checklists. Custom ADU projects must satisfy applicable City and State standards and use the City’s electronic permit process.

Work in the Public Right-of-Way

Construction within the public right-of-way can require an encroachment permit from Public Works. A building permit does not automatically authorize work in streets, sidewalks or other public areas.

Code Enforcement

Building and Safety’s Code Enforcement Division handles municipal-code compliance issues. During regular business hours, the City’s published Code Enforcement line is (818) 224-CODE (2633).

Permit Records, Final Approval & Permit Expiration

Looking Up Permit or Inspection Information

The online portal can be used to review available permit records and project information. Inspection history for a permit can also be reviewed by authorized portal users.

For older records, approved/stamped building plans or documents not available online, a City public-records request may be necessary. The City notes that some plans are stored offsite and cannot simply be downloaded from the permit portal.

How Long Is a Calabasas Permit Valid?

The City’s published guidance states that an issued permit becomes invalid if authorized work does not begin within 365 days after issuance. After work begins, the permit can become invalid if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days.

If additional time is needed, contact Building and Safety before the expiration date. The City’s extension request form requires justification and indicates that approved permit extensions may be limited in duration.

Before You Submit: 60-Second Checklist

• Confirm the property is inside Calabasas city jurisdiction.
• Confirm whether Planning approval or zoning clearance is required first.
• Select the correct building/trade permit application.
• Complete the Building Project Identification form.
• Use the City’s latest project-specific checklist.
• Prepare complete electronic plans and calculations.
• Confirm who will be the permit holder: licensed contractor or qualifying owner-builder.
• Submit through the official portal rather than bringing plans to the counter.
• Use the current fee schedule or portal invoice—not an expired fee sheet.
• Do not begin regulated work until the required permit is issued.

Related Building Department Guides

If your property or project is elsewhere in Los Angeles County, use the guide for the actual permitting jurisdiction rather than assuming Calabasas rules apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use the Correct City Process Before Starting Work

For most Calabasas projects, the safest sequence is simple: confirm jurisdiction and zoning requirements, prepare the correct plans and forms, submit electronically, complete plan review, pay the required fees, obtain the permit, and schedule every required inspection before work is concealed.

For project-specific questions, contact the City of Calabasas Building and Safety Division at (818) 224-2534 or BuildingSafetyInfo@cityofcalabasas.com.

Information reviewed for 2026: Permit procedures, office information, inspection rules and code references can change. USBuilding.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the City of Calabasas or any government agency. Final permit decisions are made by the responsible government authority.